Use it or lose it.B&W film etc

During 2011 and especially 2012 & 2013, I spent tens of thousands of dollars in stocking up on films I like to use that were either about to go away or would logically go up in price. So I now just re-stock the films that are still made a few times a year. At this point, I have at *least* 10 if not 15 years worth of 35mm, 120 and 4x5 to shoot.

I just re-stocked TMY2 in 35/120 and Acros in 120 this month. Although I think B&W is safe, I sought out to make it safer, so I did. Next will be a re-stocking of Pan-F, I love the long exposure aspects of that film as metered seconds turn into minutes....

50 sheets of Shanghai 4x5
50 sheets of Fuji 4x5
200 sheets of Ilford paper

I buy at a higher rate than I use, and have film for about 2 or 3 years worth of shooting in the freezer.

From my notes I develop about 50-60 times per annum. Buy 20 rolls of 120 each time (mixed B/W, colour). And a 30 m box of 135-film now and then. The stack in the fridge grows too.

I tend to buy film every 6 months or less. Latest were some rolls of Kentmere 100, Rollei RPX 25, 100 and 400, Adox CHS II and Vista+ 400 from mostly local brick shops.

Dear All,

Whilst I can understand people's concerns, I am absolutely sure our shared vision of the future containing silver halide film and paper in monochrome is more than secure, I cannot speak about colour as we do not produce colour, but my limited knowledge says that will be OK as well, perhaps a bit more streamlined than today.

APUG people are fairly well 'in the know' and have insight into lots of manufacturers products, and are pretty savvy and well informed, once you get out of that sphere the general level of understanding of silver based products is pretty limited and probably where most 'concerns' come from. We are a 'niche' market, and ILFORD Photo in monochrome since the 1950's has ALWAYS been a niche market.

HARMAN make over 2,450 Mono film / paper / chemistry / accessories / specialist / scientific and technical and camera products, the same ( or slightly more ) than we made when we took over the company ( 10 years ago on February 18th 2015 ) we last had a worldwide film price increase in February 2013, last had a worldwide paper price increase in February 2012 ( please note certain prices have been adjusted in some markets and for some products since that date ).

So, you are using it.... and your not going to lose ILFORD Photo products from HARMAN technology Limited, we are, and remain robustly profitable and we shall do everything required to remain so.

Thank you for buying, using and valuing ILFORD Photo products, and also for buying, using and valuing products from all the manufacturers of photographic goods of all types.

So my advice is very simple, enjoy your photography, be passionate, share your knowledge, your skills, your work and encourage others to do the same...and remember if you don't print it, it is'nt a photograph!

Simon. ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

Simon R Galley said:

Thank you for buying, using and valuing ILFORD Photo products, and also for buying, using and valuing products from all the manufacturers of photographic goods of all types.

Simon. ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

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This is an important point, it is very important to have competition and I hope this can continue, especially high quality products from Kodak, Adox, Fuji etc.

One quick item though, there is a lot of overlap in paper developers that do virtually the same thing but your Harman Cooltone developer was / is unique. I realise you've worked out it isn't worth putting back into production, but the CT developer would perhaps get the best from your new CT fibre paper.

Tom

IMHO anyone's purchasing figures for the past 30 days are not useful statistically as many, like myself, probably buy several times per year or as and when needed. I'd suggest that an average annual film consumption would be a more useful figure to work with. I say 'consumption' rather than 'purchase' as some seem to purchase higher quantities of film than they can use in the short term with the intention of putting it into storage. This is probably not sustainable in the long-term as there's a limit to how much film anyone can store or use, so ultimately probably doesn't help the film marketplace.

I can't see Kodak film being available for very much longer. Fuji's days of E6 look to be numbered as they are in danger of pricing themselves out of the market and so I suspect that in ten years time we'll be left with C41 and a very strong European B/W supply base. That said, the Agfa branded E6 (Fuji?) is very good and who knows about Ferrania? Will they/won't they?
Steve

Tom Kershaw said:

This is an important point, it is very important to have competition and I hope this can continue, especially high quality products from Kodak, Adox, Fuji etc.

One quick item though, there is a lot of overlap in paper developers that do virtually the same thing but your Harman Cooltone developer was / is unique. I realise you've worked out it isn't worth putting back into production, but the CT developer would perhaps get the best from your new CT fibre paper.

Tom

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HiTom

set of 0.01 gm scales about 29.99 GBP from Maplin
raw chemicals from
http://www.silverprint.co.uk/ProductByGroup.asp?PrGrp=49
formula from
http://www.lostlabours.co.uk/photography/formulae/formulae.htm
Ian will help you tune it for cold cold tone

Noel

Steve Roberts said:

I can't see Kodak film being available for very much longer.

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I hope not, Kodak TMY-2 in particular is an incredible film in terms of image quality at 400 ISO. The Kodak branded chemistry hasn't been made by Kodak for a while anyway; hopefully Tetenal can continue to make XTOL under licence for the foreseeable future.

Tom

Xmas said:

HiTom

set of 0.01 gm scales about 29.99 GBP from Maplin
raw chemicals from
http://www.silverprint.co.uk/ProductByGroup.asp?PrGrp=49
formula from
http://www.lostlabours.co.uk/photography/formulae/formulae.htm
Ian will help you tune it for cold cold tone

Noel

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Noel,

I have a good lab balance and stock of raw chemicals. After extensive testing a few years ago, I concluded the Harman CT developer contain(s/ed) some proprietary technology, confirmed on APUG by Simon R Galley.

Tom

25 rolls of HP5+ in 120. Happy if I shoot 2 rolls and print at-least half of them in a month.

Steve Roberts said:

IMHO anyone's purchasing figures for the past 30 days are not useful statistically as many, like myself, probably buy several times per year or as and when needed. I'd suggest that an average annual film consumption would be a more useful figure to work with. I say 'consumption' rather than 'purchase' as some seem to purchase higher quantities of film than they can use in the short term with the intention of putting it into storage. This is probably not sustainable in the long-term as there's a limit to how much film anyone can store or use, so ultimately probably doesn't help the film marketplace.

I can't see Kodak film being available for very much longer. Fuji's days of E6 look to be numbered as they are in danger of pricing themselves out of the market and so I suspect that in ten years time we'll be left with C41 and a very strong European B/W supply base. That said, the Agfa branded E6 (Fuji?) is very good and who knows about Ferrania? Will they/won't they?
Steve

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Unusually I've bought 5 35mm films in the last 30 days. I say unusual because I tend to bulk buy maybe once or twice a year but for family reasons haven't stocked up for at least 2 or 3 years and while I've stock left some sizes won't last long.

It's time to restock in the next month or so and the bulk of my film order will be from Ilford with some Foma, I've not decided on paper yet as my preference was Forte Polywarmtone (I still have quite a bit left).

Ian

I don't see the point of this thread.

The manufacturers and distributors of film should be able to cater to all customers, regardless of their buying patterns.

Pros and big users probably buy a few times per year, while others may buy whenever the need arises.

Last year I spent $1500 on film, but it's my prerogative when I bought it and from whom.

Last 30 days - nil.

2000 feet in the freezer and fridge. I don't shoot much so I can't justify any new purchases.

This is not my usual thing, but I bought 800 feet of Ilford hp5+, expired, from a local college bookstore and promptly sold 600 feet. It's not my favorite, but at the price I got it for, it's worth experimenting and seeing if I can tame the grain a little bit. While I was at the book store, I picked up 2 rolls of FP4, to check out since my stash of Legacy Pro from Freestyle is almost gone. Next week I'm ordering a bulk roll of the Whitner 35mm positive.

Normally however I'm in the one or two cartridges a month camp, so it was a big month for me.

Film is in no danger of disappearing (although all of us old fossils are).

momus said:

Film is in no danger of disappearing (although all of us old fossils are).

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That. really depends on the definition of fossil

dosilverhalide said:

I keep hearing people gnashing their teeth about the rising cost or soon to go away black and white film. Just curious, state here , how many rolls of BW film you have purchased in the past 30 days from a store or on the net. I have purchased none. So I guess I can't complain if it goes away any time soon. J.

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In the last three months I've bought:
Qty 1 - 25 sheet box of HP5+ 5x7 sheet film
Qty 50 - 35mm Ilford HP5+
Qty 40 - 120 Ilford HP5+
Qty 10 - 120 Ilford Pan-F+
Qty 10 - 120 Ilford Delta 100
Qty 5 - 120 Ilford Delta 3200

I have about 20 rolls left, so need to buy more. I usually purchase film every six months or so, and estimate I go through about 200 rolls a year.

just got a bulk roll of panf+ delivered yesterday. bought all the acros they had at the SF Samy's store two weeks ago, 5 pro packs. 40 rolls of the ultrafine Xtreme 100 in 120 and 20 rolls of tmax 400 in 120. gotta get em while i have the cash on hand or it will never happen

30 days? 1 5 roll box of TMY120. Use more 120 than anything else these days. Don't ask how may are waiting to be developed or how far behind I am in contact sheets and printing.

Lot of interesting replys. I guess I should have said since the first of the year instead of 30 days. Glad to see Harmon's reply. I would have put this in earlier but I just upgraded the computer from land line to dish and its taking me 15 minutes to get on the net. Woo hoo, go computers. I think I'll put a roll of b&w in my pre war folder and do some shooting. J

I need to update my figures - I bought a pro-pack today of Portra 160 in 120, to replace two older 220 rolls I used for a family portrait session I did for some friends recently.

I bought it from the lab that developed, scanned and proofed my shots - ABC Photocolour. It is 50% more per roll their (in Canadian funds) than the USD price at B&H, but I like the fact that ABC seems to be selling lots of it, and I wish to encourage that.

Oh and I should point out that the proofs are on Kodak Endura paper, and as usual with ABC, they are excellent.

Sheez...the last 6 months?? I'm supposed to be able to remember that far back??

Can't say for sure. I do know that I have mixed and used 3 gallons of D76 (just started on the 4th), gone through half a bottle of Adonal and mixed up 3 C-41 kits in that time.

Just doin' my part.

Hmm I've bought .... A lot...

1 8x10 Box x-ray film
1 8x10 Box Delta100
1 8x10 Box HP5+
3 8x10 Portra100T
1 4x5 Box Delta100
10 120 Neopan400

With that I'm pretty much done for the year.

I'll probably end up buying more ilford 8x10 as I use that most often, and maybe pick up some Acros100 just because it's awesome for night shots, but that's it.

But then I tend to shoot my B&W film, I tend to hoard my E-6

I don't often shoot C-41 but it was an 8x10 offer I couldn't justify passing up.

Now OP, you need to seriously get out there and shoot that film and CONSUME and buy more, we are counting on you!

Don't forget to stock up on Fuji instant film. It's the last remaining of its kind and Fuji have no scruples discontinuing stuff with no warning.